Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have issued fresh warnings to parents at their children’s new UK school about photographing students, drawing complaints of “complete overkill” from some families.
The Duke, 40, and Duchess of Sussex, 43, enrolled Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, at an upscale prep school after abruptly relocating from California last month. The couple had previously pulled their children from a Santa Barbara school without notifying teachers they would not re-enroll, according to reports.
Guidance regarding parents’ and caregivers’ conduct was allegedly distributed after Markle’s phone number leaked through a parents’ WhatsApp chat, reports said Tuesday. A separate notice reportedly went to parents of students at nearby schools who play sports against the Sussex children’s institution, stressing “the importance of only taking photos of your own children.”
“It can’t be a coincidence that these notices are going out now just after Harry and Meghan have moved their children into the local area,” one parent complained to the outlet.
“It’s complete overkill, everyone knows the boundaries, and could you imagine the uproar from other parents if someone was discovered purposely taking pictures of children that weren’t theirs,” the parent continued. “I hope this isn’t a sign of things to come because it’s totally unnecessary.”
Another parent at the school described a dramatic first-day scene, telling the outlet that two 4×4 cars came “rushing” down a lane near the campus before the couple, their children, and their security team appeared at the entrance. That same parent struck a more welcoming note about the community.
“Everyone is very down to earth and normal here,” they said. “We all help each other and help out whenever we can with school events. We would hope all new parents want to get involved and immerse themselves in school life and the wider community.”
The family’s UK return marks a significant reversal. The couple left Britain in 2020 after stepping back as working royals, settling in California where their children began their schooling. The decision to pull Archie and Lilibet from their new UK school after just two days made headlines earlier this month.
“The decision for the children to move schools was taken following a discussion with the family’s security team about the practicalities of their current arrangements,” a rep for the couple told Hello! Earlier this month.
“The parents remain extremely grateful to all the teachers and staff for the love, care and effort they have shown their family,” the statement continued. “This decision should in no way be interpreted as a reflection on the school or the exceptional care the children have received there.”
An insider told Hello! That the move was “a real shame” because “they absolutely adored the school, the kids and their parents.” The source added, “It was perfect for them in every way and the children really enjoyed their time there. They really wanted to make it work, but they had to make a difficult decision based on the fact that the team couldn’t make the school run operationally secure.”
Royal expert Kinsey Schofield subsequently alleged to the outlet that the incident was “another example of Harry and Meghan appearing to choose the more complicated route and then discovering that the complications are difficult to manage.”
Privacy concerns about UK schooling are longstanding for Markle. In a 2022 interview with The Cut, she addressed her worries about photographers capturing her children during school drop-offs.
“Sorry, I have a problem with that,” she told the outlet at the time. “That doesn’t make me obsessed with privacy. That makes me a strong and good parent protecting my child.”
Prince Harry twice took the British government to court over its decision to end taxpayer-funded security for his family, losing both challenges. However, earlier this month reports said that Markle has been granted her first government-backed security review. The couple was asked to provide details of their new daily routines to the Royal and VIP Executive Committee and will receive an official risk assessment.